Are your tomato vines outgrowing their trellis? Do you long for a homegrown tomato but only have a small balcony garden? Maybe it’s time to try a dwarf tomato!
Dwarf tomatoes grow to be less than 1.5m (5 feet) high, and many of them mature no taller than your knee. Even so, a dwarf variety will produce full-size tomatoes and lots of them. They are perfect for growing in containers but they also work great planted in your garden. Also, dwarf tomatoes can be cherry, Roma, beefsteak, or any other kind.
Keep reading to learn more about dwarf tomatoes plus see the 13 best varieties to choose from (and we’ll take a look at some of the tastiest micro dwarfs).
What Are Dwarf Tomatoes
Dwarf tomatoes are basically short tomato plants. They are bred to produce large harvests of full sized fruit in a limited space, making them ideal for small gardens or growing in containers.
Here are some of the characteristics of dwarf tomato varieties:
- Dwarf tomatoes are typically less than 1.5m (5 feet) tall
- The fruits come in all sizes, shapes, and colours
- Dwarf tomatoes can be beefsteak, salad, cherry, Roma, or heirloom
- Dwarf tomatoes require little pruning
- Excellent for container growing or the small garden
Dwarf Tomato Height
Most people classify dwarf tomatoes as maturing between 30cm to 1.5m (1-5 feet). However, many gardeners consider dwarf plants to be around 60cm and maxing at 1.25 meters (2-4ft).
If you want a really small tomato plant, check out micro dwarf tomatoes below.
Dwarf Tomatoes Can Be Indeterminate Or Determinate
Tomatoes are divided into two main groups: determinate and indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes are also called bush tomatoes and will grow in an upright bushy plant with a terminal bud on top. Determinate tomatoes generally have one large harvest of fruit that all ripens at the same time.
Indeterminate tomatoes, also called vine tomatoes, grow on long sprawling vines that continue to grow right up until they are killed by frost. In warm climates, or in a greenhouse, indeterminate tomatoes can actually survive as perennials and produce fruit for three years or so. Indeterminate tomatoes produce flowers and fruits as they grow and have a very long harvest season.
With their diminutive size, one would assume dwarf tomatoes are determinate, but this is not usually the case. Most dwarf tomatoes come from varieties that contain a dominant indeterminate gene that have been selectively bred to only grow to a certain size.
In truth, dwarf tomato plants are neither indeterminate nor determinate, yet they are both. They have vining growth with stock bush-like stems and leaves. Still, some will be more “vine-like” and others more “bush-like” so they are sold as indeterminate or determinate.
Supporting Dwarf Tomatoes
Determinate dwarf tomatoes will often be sturdy enough to support themselves, though if they are a variety that produces large tomatoes, they might require light staking as the fruits develop.
For indeterminate dwarf tomatoes, they will require staking just like long vining varieties. The trellises should be sturdy, but of course, they do not need to be very tall. A 1.5 meter (5 feet) trellis should be more than adequate for any dwarf tomato.
You can also let dwarf tomatoes sprawl along the ground, but be sure to keep your eye out for pests and diseases that like the damp sheltered environment under the vines.
Tomato cages are also a great way to support short dwarf tomato varieties.
Dwarf Tomato Fruit Size
Just because the plants are small, doesn’t mean the fruits are. They can be bite size or over 500g (18ounces), and dwarf tomatoes generally produce fruits that are between 1.25cm and 8cm (½ – 3 inches).
Dwarf tomatoes come in a variety of colours including red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, and more. The fruits can also be many different shapes.
Dwarf Tomatoes Days To Maturity
Even though they are shorter, dwarf tomatoes take about the same amount of time to reach maturity as larger varieties. Most dwarf tomatoes mature in 50 to 90 days from transplant. Dwarf tomato plants should be started 6 to 8 weeks prior to transplant, so add 42 to 56 days to the “days to maturity” listed on the seed packet for the total growing length.
Our growing season is very short. Our last frost in the spring is at the end of May and killing frost returns less than four months later so we always have to cover them in September to keep the frost off while the tomatoes finish ripening. Here is where dwarf varieties offer another advantage: it is difficult to put a blanket over a long sprawling vine, but a dwarf tomato can be easily covered so we don’t lose any of the delicious tomatoes.
Or perhaps you prefer to bring your potted tomatoes indoors when the weather turns cool. It is much easier carrying a short little plant than dragging in a bush that is taller than you are.
Where To Buy Dwarf Tomatoes
Dwarf tomato seeds or seedlings can be purchased wherever you normally buy your garden supplies. Many seed companies and nurseries do not consider ‘dwarf’ as its own category so the plants may not be labeled as such. Sometimes, dwarf tomatoes will be listed as “good for container growing” or “compact”. Read the label for its mature height to be sure.
The Dwarf Tomato Project is an international organization that crossbreeds tons of new dwarf varieties. They are part of the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) and have links to several reputable sources for seeds on their site.
13 Dwarf Tomato Varieties to Try in Small Spaces
Ready to give dwarf tomatoes a try? Here are the top varieties to give your garden a new, smaller tomato patch.
1. Uluru Ochre
Uluru Ochre grows up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, is indeterminate, and matures in about 65 days. These tomatoes have a deep orange color and a unique smoky flavor. The fruits are fairly large, so a sturdy trellis is a must. It’s a newer variety but well worth growing.
2. Rosella Purple
Rosella Purple reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height, is indeterminate, and takes around 78 days to mature. This heirloom beefsteak variety has black-purple skin and dark red flesh, offering a rich and versatile flavor.
3. Saucy Mary
Saucy Mary grows between 45 and 76 cm (18–30 inches), is indeterminate, and matures in 65 to 80 days. The fruits are a beautiful green plum shape, up to 8 cm (3 inches) long, great for fresh eating or making sauce.
4. Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim grows just 20 to 40 cm (8–16 inches) tall, is determinate, and matures in about 60 days. This old-fashioned cherry tomato produces 2 cm (1 inch) fruits with a sweetly tart taste and tolerates lower light better than many others.
5. Glacier
Glacier reaches 60 to 75 cm (24–30 inches), is determinate, and matures early at 55 days. It’s a salad variety with flavorful 5 cm (2 inch) fruits and does especially well in northern, cooler climates.
6. Gold Nugget
Gold Nugget grows to about 60 cm (24 inches), is determinate, and matures in 56 days. This yellow cherry tomato handles cool weather well, producing early and sweet nearly seedless fruits.
7. Bush Early Girl
Bush Early Girl reaches 76 to 90 cm (30–36 inches), is determinate, and matures in 54 days. It’s a compact but high-yielding plant that grows 10 cm (4 inch) tomatoes, perfect for pots or garden beds.
8. Strawberry Tiger
Strawberry Tiger grows up to 1.2 meters (5 feet), is indeterminate, and matures in 65 to 80 days. Its small oxheart-shaped fruits look like strawberries, with red skin and light stripes. They’re great fresh or cooked into paste or sauce.
9. Pisanello da Bruschetta
Pisanello da Bruschetta reaches 1 meter (3 feet), is indeterminate, and matures in 68 to 87 days. Known for its deep red color and fluted shape, this tomato has a classic flavor and is the traditional choice for Tuscan bruschetta.
10. Purple Reign
Purple Reign grows to 1 meter (3 feet), is determinate, and matures in 75 days. These beefsteak tomatoes have a rich purple-red hue and are excellent cooked or fresh, making them a rewarding heirloom to grow.
11. Firebird
Firebird ranges from 1 to 1.5 meters (3–5 feet) tall, is indeterminate, and matures in 75 days. It produces heavy clusters of pink tomatoes streaked with golden stripes, making it a standout in the garden.
12. Beryl Beauty
Beryl Beauty reaches 1.2 meters (4 feet), is indeterminate, and matures in 90 days. These green tomatoes are medium-sized, have a well-rounded flavor, and are ideal for fresh eating or cooking.
13. Hannah’s Prize
Hannah’s Prize also grows to 1.2 meters (4 feet), is indeterminate, and matures in 80 days. Its red fruits may show vertical stripes, and they deliver a nicely balanced flavor with a subtle tartness.
Micro Dwarf Tomatoes
If dwarf tomatoes are still too big for you, try a micro dwarf tomato! Micro dwarfs are typically under 30cm (12inches) tall, but they can still yield a hefty number of delicious tomatoes. Like dwarfs, micro dwarf tomatoes are also usually indeterminate. They contain the dominant indeterminate gene coupled with an extremely rare dwarfism gene that makes them incredibly small while still healthy and bearing fruit.
Here are some tiny micro dwarfs to try:
- Red Robin – 20cm to 30cm (8-12 inches)
- Micro Tom – 15cm to 20cm (6-8 inches)
- Orange Hat – 15cm to 20cm (6-8 inches)
- Cherry Berry – 20cm to 25cm (8-10 inches)
- Inkspot – 25cm to 30cm (10-12 inches)
- Yellow Balcony – 30cm (12 inches)
Conclusion
While it is impressive to see massive tomato bushes or rambling vines climbing up their trellis (and this is often a matter of pride for the gardener), these can be a bit hard to handle sometimes. Dwarf tomatoes offer the perfect solution for those who want delicious fresh tomatoes without the complications of full sized plants. And while a dwarf plant may seem insignificant, there is something to be said for the “tiny but mighty” producer that nestles unobtrusively in the corner but still brings home the harvest.
Dwarf tomatoes are tiny, cute, and productive. I hope you will give them a try.
